Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has firmly dismissed NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s plea for the federal government to prohibit U.S. President Donald Trump from entering Canada for the upcoming G7 summit this June.
At a lively event in Montreal on Thursday, Trudeau expressed that banning Trump would be an ‘irresponsible’ method of handling governance and international relationships.
‘In today’s political climate, it’s easy for leaders to throw around shocking and simplistic statements. We’re witnessing it across the globe these days. However, I do not count myself among those Canadian politicians,’ Trudeau articulated when questioned about Singh’s proposal.
In a passionate speech in Montreal on Wednesday, Singh argued that Trump should be barred from the country owing to his threats against Canada’s sovereignty and his criminal record.
‘We must prohibit Donald Trump from attending the G7 summit. He is not welcome on our soil,’ Singh declared. ‘Why should we extend an invitation to someone who has jeopardized our very democracy and sovereignty? Why invite someone who has endangered our economic stability?’
Although Trudeau did not directly refer to Singh during his remarks, he was addressing a journalist’s query concerning the NDP leader’s assertions. In a media release, Singh mentioned that appeasement is ineffective and the G7 should serve as an opportunity for global leaders to pool their efforts to counter Trump.
‘The objective of the G7 should be centered on fostering mutually beneficial economic cooperation among countries. Mr. Trump has unambiguously stated his ambition is to achieve economic supremacy through intimidation, trade disputes, and assimilating Canada as the 51st state,’ he asserted.
Serving as this year’s president of the G7, a consortium of the world’s most advanced economies, Canada is set to host the annual G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, this June.